GoKawiilSamsung is nothing if not consistent.
Just as it has for many years, the company is starting the year with a new generation of Galaxy S phones. Rumors about remixing the lineup did not pan out, so there are still three versions of the phone—the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. It’s the Ultra, with its whopping $1,300 price tag, that makes up the largest chunk of Samsung flagship sales, even though you can get a perfectly serviceable smartphone for a third of the price. The S26 Ultra serves a different market than a budget phone, though.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is big, powerful, and overflowing with features. It can be a bit too much at times, particularly if you don’t care for mobile AI. It’s expensive, but you get long support and just about everything you could want from a smartphone in 2026. Still, with other smartphone makers scaling back amid skyrocketing component prices, the S26 Ultra may end up looking like a good value in hindsight.
Modest changes, but still in the lead
The Galaxy S26 Ultra may not be an exciting mobile revolution, but Samsung knows how to build a flagship smartphone. The device looks and feels monolithic, with a sturdy metal frame sandwiched between premium glass on the front and back. The screen is covered with Gorilla Armor 2, which incorporates ceramic for added strength and a surface that reduces reflections. The back is Gorilla Glass Victus 2, with Corning’s highest impact and scratch resistance to date.
Credit: Ryan Whitwam The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a very big phone. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a very big phone. Credit: Ryan Whitwam
This phone has Samsung’s most capable camera setup, and you won’t forget it. The camera bump on the back rises about half a centimeter from the glass panel, making the phone extremely wobbly when lying on a table. Most people put their phones in cases, so this isn’t a major usability issue. Still, I prefer Google’s Pixel camera bar for stability.